Svitzer expands its presence in Brazil

The tugs Svitzer Jamil Darian and Svitzer Zoe have been deployed to service the ports and Svitzer has hired 12 crew members locally who have undergone substantial training in line with Svitzer’s international standards, the company saying it will operate “with an uncompromising focus on safety”.

The two tugs will serve a diverse portfolio of customers in the region, bringing new possibilities for more complex manoeuvres and the ability to assist different ship sizes at the Port of Salvador. As part of the expansion, Svitzer has announced a newbuild tug programme involving six new vessels, the first of which is in service in the Port of Pacem.

Svitzer Jamil Darian and Svitzer Zoe are consecutively built tugs delivered by Industria Naval do Ceara S.A. (INACE) at Fortaleza, Brazil in 2017. Designed by Robert Allan, they are examples of the RApport 2400 MkII marque. The RApport series is typically offered in ASD configuration alternatively with a conventional twin-screw arrangement.

The series is under the 24m loadline rule length and was developed specifically for shiphandling operations in modern but typically smaller ports. The design has a special place in RAL’s history with early development of the CATES series for C.H. Cates and Sons of North Vancouver, one of RAL’s earliest clients. The later examples were among the first Z-drive tugs in North America, derivatives of the designs leading to some its earliest export contracts and expansion into the global business of ship-assist tug design.

The pair for Port of Salvador are 23.8m LOA on a breadth of 11m and draught 3.2m. Two Caterpillar 3516C-HD main engines each develop 1,864kW/2,534hp at 1,600rpm and are connected to shafts driving fixed-pitch propellers.

Caterpillar also provides auxiliary machinery with two C4.4 generators providing 99kW ac. Performance figures for the pair include an impressive 62tbp and speed 12.5kn.